Tweaks you got rid of because they were not effective (enough)?


There are some audiophiles for whom cost is no object; they buy what they wish and every single tweak and gadget which promises to improve the sound. And the industry is all too happy to produce such tweaks -- often made of expensive materials with elaborate engineering explanations. Those who question the value of these tweaks are frequently accused of being "naysayers" who are either too ignorant or insensate to realize that "everything matters."

Of course, money spent one place cannot be spent elsewhere; expenditures on tweaks take the place of other more central factors affecting the sound. In some cases, those tweaks are worth it; you can hear the difference, and that $400 (or whatever) really could not have improved your speakers or sub or amp, etc.

So, the question here is simple: Which tweak have you tried which, after some experience and reflection, you realized was either *not* effective or not the most effective way to improve your system? 
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Showing 3 responses by tbakin63

mahgister - I finally understand you better after re-reading.  Thank you for sharing yourself here.  You are an inspiration. Onward!!!!...
I LOVE the question from the original OP!  

Frankly, experience over years has taught me that auditory hallucinations abound, undergirded by shameful, greedy marketing.  To wit - "I know what I heard - and I promise you the $20K, 3-foot speaker cable on cryogenically frozen risers sounds better!"  Smart, sophisticated people become infantile science deniers spouting absolute alchemic bunk as if it's fact and then go on the attack towards the physics-educated "non-believers" among us who don't sign on.  Their typical narrative - our systems are substandard, our hearing is flawed, etc., etc. 

Now that my rant is out of the way, I agree that the right, complementary components are key.  Upgraded components generally upgrade the sound.  Different combinations of different components (Tube, SS, etc.) offer different "flavors" and that's all about individual tastes and preferences. Paying attention to equipment specs and that which can be objectively measured is certainly worthwhile.  Room conditions, sound dampening etc. - all sound physics and worth paying attention to.  Cleaning up some power supplies (or combinations thereof) to eliminate extraneous noise has also helped in my experience. 

I have always loved this hobby for the MUSIC. Unfortunately, so many of my audiophile (audiofool) brethren have been totally distracted from that essence by dressed up lies designed to separate one from their cash.